Tradition Reimagined – A new collection from Menu

A week ago today, before we headed home from our holiday in Copenhagen, my family and I stopped off in Nordhavn for breakfast at The Audo. I’ve longed to visit this boutique hotel, restaurant, material library and communal workspace since it first opened its doors, not just to soak up the spring sunshine over a cup of coffee, but to look around the headquarters and showroom of one of my favourite Danish design brands, Menu.

As you would expect every element of this unique experience perfectly reflected Menu’s founding principle; that through great design people and places can be united. It also provided the perfect backdrop for me to see for myself their latest collection, ‘Tradition Reimagined’.

Inspired by conversations about entertaining, and how gathering together to enjoy each other’s company has changed over the years, every new Menu product is bounded together by a desire to help us all create meaningful memories and share intimate interactions.

While I adore the larger pieces of furniture and lighting, such as the elegant ‘Curiosity Cabinet’ by Copenhagen-based architects Mentze Ottenstein or the beautiful additions to their much-loved ‘Hashima’ lighting series, what I like most about this collection are the smaller pieces. A selection of glassware, silverware, ceramics and textiles we can use and enjoy every day.

Whether you’re dining alone, with a partner, or with a group of friends, my personal favourites include the bold ‘Estruscan’ pitcher with its exaggerated curved handle and tapered spout. Perfect as a centrepiece filled with fresh flowers or used for serving ice cold drinks or warm mulled wine.

Then there’s the ‘Abacus Candle Holder’ ideal for a tabletop, hearth or shelf, and the ‘Triptych’ bowls. With their tapering narrow bases, these wide-rimmed speckled stoneware designs come in three different sizes and a range of soft nostalgic shades.

Mentze Ottenstein has also designed the stylishly simple mouth-blown ‘Strandgade’ drinking glasses and accompanying carafe, as well as a series of crisp linen tea towels and napkins in collaboration with textile designer Marie-Louise Rosholm, both of which are available in colours including an Audo style burnt sienna, a truly Danish rich yellow ochre, deep indigo blue and fresh ecru.

The final piece I had to mention is the ‘Yana Brewing Pot’ designed by none other than Norm Architects, who I’m sure you are aware helped to restore and transform the Audo from a disused merchants house into the design destination it is today. Thanks to its double-filter immersion system, that steeps tea leaves or ground coffee in the water to release their natural flavours, the Yana Brewing Pot will allow us all to recreate that perfect coffee moment, wherever in the world we call home.